Operating device for a vehicle
The integration of motion and pressure detection sensors into a single spring element for vehicle operating devices addresses wear and assembly complexity issues, enhancing tactile feedback and reducing panel wear, through a capacitively operating touch panel with a scanning track and spring arms.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BEHRN-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle operating devices with manually operated controls and touch panels face issues such as wear and tear on the touch-sensitive surface due to moving transmitter elements, increased assembly complexity from separate components for electrical and haptic functions, and inefficient integration of tactile feedback.
A capacitively operating touch panel with a control element that integrates motion and pressure detection sensors into a single electrically conductive spring element, featuring a scanning track with alternating conductive and non-conductive sections, and spring arms for motion, pressure, and return functions, simplifying assembly and enhancing tactile feedback.
The integrated spring element reduces component count, simplifies manufacturing and assembly, and provides effective tactile and electrical feedback, minimizing wear on the touch panel while ensuring precise control element positioning.
Smart Images
Figure IMGF0001 
Figure IMGF0002 
Figure IMGF0003
Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle, wherein the operating device typically has a capacitively operating touch panel with a correspondingly touch-sensitive top surface, on which a control unit with a manually detectable control element is arranged, which can be moved translationally and / or rotationally in a direction parallel to the top surface of the touch panel and can be moved automatically and reversibly orthogonally to the top surface of the touch panel, namely by pressing down.
[0002] Touch panels, and especially touchscreens, have become increasingly prevalent as operating devices for vehicles in recent years. However, manually operated controls, such as sliders or rotary knobs with push functions, can sometimes be more convenient.
[0003] It has already been described in several cases how manually operated controls can be combined with touch panels or touchscreens. Examples of this are described in DE-C-197 43 283, DE-A-10 2006 043 208, DE-A-10 2010 010 574, DE-A-10 2011 007 112 and EP-A-2 302 799. In the known operating devices, a encoder element coupled to the control moves on the touch-sensitive surface of the touch panel to use its touch sensor to determine the current position of the control. It is sometimes desirable for the user to be able to position the control at different locations on the touch panel. Transmitter elements that move on the surface of the touch panel can cause damage and wear to the touch-sensitive surface of the touch panel (scratches, scuff marks, etc.), which should be avoided.
[0004] From WO-A-2018 / 137944 (corresponding to EP 3 574 393 B1) a control device for a motor vehicle is known in which a ring or disc is arranged between the rotatable control element and the touch panel. This ring or disc has alternating electrically conductive and non-conductive areas along a circular path. When the control element is rotated, this circular path is traced by a wiper, which is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the surface of the control element, which is also electrically conductive. When the control element is touched, a capacitive coupling is thus created between the underside of the retaining element (specifically in the area of its conductive sections) and the touch panel. This coupling can then be used to detect the rotational position of the control element by means of the touch panel's touch sensors.In addition, the familiar control element can also be pressed down, whereby in the pressed state additional electrical / capacitive couplings are created between the control element and the touch panel, which can be used to detect that the control element has been pressed.
[0005] The known operating device thus comprises several elements that should be easily mountable. Furthermore, such an operating element should also have a corresponding tactile feel. This tactile functionality is typically achieved by wipers or spring elements, which, however, in the prior art, are implemented by elements provided separately from the detection wipers. This increases the assembly effort.
[0006] From DE-A-10 2006 036 636, a detent device for a rotary / push control element of a vehicle is known, in which a component with two spring functions is used for the exclusively mechanical functions of the reversible depressor and the rotation. None of the spring arms (for the depressor function) and spring tongues (for detent during rotation) used for this purpose have an electrical function.
[0007] Further rotary / push controllers arranged on a touch-sensitive surface are described in DE-A-10 2016 121 076, DE-A-10 2018 118 809, DE-A-10 2018 118 839 and WO-A-2018 / 114138.
[0008] The object of the invention is to further simplify the construction and assembly of an operating device of the type mentioned above.
[0009] To solve this problem, the invention proposes an operating device for a vehicle which is equipped with a capacitively operating touch panel having a touch-sensitive top surface, an operating unit comprising a manually detectable control element with an electrically conductive surface and a holding element having a top surface and a bottom surface facing away from it, on which the control element is arranged to be movable translationally and / or rotationally in a direction parallel to and orthogonal to the top surface of the touch panel, wherein the control element has at least one motion detection sensor element, preferably in the form of a slider, which is electrically connected to the electrically conductive surface of the control element and which slides along a scanning track of the holding element when the control element is moved, wherein the holding element has alternately successive first sections and second sections along the scanning track.wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the retaining element are electrically connected to each other in the first sections and electrically insulated from each other in the second sections, wherein the operating unit has a detent device with at least one elastic detent element and a detent track with alternately successive detent elevations and detent depressions, wherein the scanning track of the operating unit is designed as a detent track of the detent device and has the detent elevations and the detent depressions, wherein the at least one detent element also functions as a motion detection sensor element, wherein the operating element of the operating unit can be reversibly depressed in the direction of the retaining element and has at least one pressure detection sensor element electrically connected to the electrically conductive surface of the operating element,The control element, in its depressed state, electrically contacts at least one of the first sections of the scanning track of the control unit, which electrically connects the upper side of the retaining element to its underside, and is arranged at a distance from the scanning track of the control unit in its undepressed state, and comprises an electrically conductive spring element having a carrier element electrically connected to the surface of the control element, from which at least a first spring arm, which functions as a motion detection sensor element and the detent element, at least a second spring arm, which functions as a pressure detection sensor element, and at least a third spring arm project, which functions as a return spring for the return movement of the control element after it has been depressed, wherein the three spring arms are formed integrally with the common carrier element.
[0010] The operating device according to the invention comprises a capacitively operated touch panel, on the touch-sensitive upper surface of which a retaining element for the rotational and / or translational mounting of a control element is arranged. The control element is part of an operating unit and has an electrically conductive surface. The control element can not only be moved translationally and / or rotationally, but also reversibly pressed down.
[0011] For haptic feedback during rotation or translational movement of the control element, a scanning device with a detent track is used. This track features alternating raised and recessed detents. An elastic detent element, which will be discussed further below, scans this track. The detent track also serves for electrical detection by an electrically conductive motion detection element, typically a wiper, which thus also functions as the detent element. The detent track has alternating electrically conductive and non-conductive sections, electrically connecting the upper surface of the track to the underside of the holding element in the conductive sections.
[0012] In addition to the motion detection element, the control unit also features a push detection element, which is also electrically conductive and, like the motion detection element, is electrically connected to the surface of the control unit. In the unpressed state, the push detection element does not contact the scanning track; this only occurs when the control unit is pressed down. The two detection elements are offset from each other, so that in every rotational or sliding position of the control unit, when pressed down, the push detection element always contacts a different electrically conductive section of the scanning track than the motion detection element.Alternatively, in the depressed state of the operating element, the push-detection sensor element can contact extensions connected to the first and second sections of the scanning track, which are alternately electrically conductive to the underside of the holding element.
[0013] This means that different touch-sensitive areas of the touch panel are activated in each movement position of the control element, making the control element's position detectable. If the control element is pressed in a movement position, the pressure-detection sensor comes into contact with at least one of the electrically conductive sections, generating a signal at another sensitive point on the touch panel. Advantageously, several pressure-detection sensors are provided, the relative positions of which are known. Therefore, if signals are received via the touch panel from, for example, three different points positioned relative to each other as the pressure-detection sensors are, this can be interpreted as the control element being pressed down.
[0014] According to the invention, the two types of detection elements and at least one return spring for realizing the reversible depressibility of the control element are integral components of one and the same electrically conductive spring element. For this purpose, this spring element has a support element electrically connected to the surface of the control element, from which spring arms project. The support element has at least one first spring arm, which functions as a motion detection element and detent element, and with which the scanning track, designed as a detent track, is swept when the control element is moved translationally or rotationally. At least one second spring arm also projects from the support element, which assumes the function of the pressure detection element and only comes into contact with the scanning track when the control element is pressed.Finally, the support element also has a third spring arm, which takes over the function of the return spring for the reversible return movement of the control element after it has been pressed down.
[0015] By concentrating the electrical and haptic functions of the control unit into a single spring element, the control unit can be easily assembled and thus manufactured. The number of components required is correspondingly reduced, which facilitates both the manufacturing and assembly processes.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support element of the spring element can be connected to the control element and move along with it during rotational and / or translational movement, as well as movement orthogonal to it. Furthermore, an additional component of the control device can have a support surface for the third spring arm, against which the third spring arm rests and relative to which the control element can move when pressed down. The support element, and thus the spring element, is therefore moved together with the control element. The control element has a support surface for the at least one third spring arm, on which the at least one third spring arm rests and relative to which it moves.The control element is thus movable orthogonally to the top of the touch panel on the additional component, which is moved along with the control element during rotational and / or translational movement and can be pressed down relative to the control element. This component then has the support surface for the at least one third spring arm, or support surfaces for each third spring arm, on which the respective spring arm can preferably slide.
[0017] It is advantageous if, by means of special designs of the support element and the control element, a tactile feedback can also be achieved. According to a first embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the support surface has a projection over which the third spring arm slides when the control element is pressed down, and / or a recess into which the third spring arm dips when the control element is pressed down. This means that the third spring arm, in addition to its return spring function, also performs the function of providing the tactile feedback.
[0018] As a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, one variant for implementing the haptic feedback can be provided that the second spring arm has a deflection projection or a deflection recess, wherein the second spring arm is reversibly deformable by the deflection projection or recess when the control element is pressed down, thereby creating a mechanical resistance that must be overcome manually when contacting the scanning track to reach the depressed position of the control element. The at least one second spring arm, or every second spring arm, which initially functions as a pressure detection element, now also serves to generate mechanical resistance when the control element is pressed down, thus creating the haptic feedback.
[0019] In an alternative embodiment to the aforementioned concept, it is advantageously provided that a deflection projection or a deflection recess is formed along the scanning track of the operating unit for the spring arm or every second spring arm, wherein the second spring arm is reversibly deformable by the deflection projection or the deflection recess when the operating element is pressed down, and thereby, upon contact with the scanning track or with extensions connected to the first and second sections of the scanning track, which, like the first and second sections of the scanning track, are alternately electrically connected to the underside of the holding element, a mechanical resistance is created which must be overcome manually to reach the pressing-down position of the operating element.
[0020] Here, it is again the second spring arm that provides the additional tactile feedback when pressing. However, unlike before, this is not achieved through a special shape of the second spring arm or every other spring arm, but rather through a shape on the scanning track that features a lateral deflection projection or a lateral deflection depression along its length. In all four cases mentioned above, this results in a reversible bending of at least one second spring arm or every other spring arm shortly before the control element reaches its depress position, thereby creating mechanical resistance that is overcome when the button is pressed.
[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the scanning track can have a surface parallel to the top of the touch panel or a surface that is oriented orthogonally to the top of the touch panel. This means that, in the case of a rotary controller, the wave-shaped scanning track is oriented radially (parallel to the top of the touch panel) or axially (orthogonally to the top of the touch panel). The elongated "valleys" of the scanning track thus extend either parallel to the top of the touch panel or perpendicular to it. In general, the scanning track is either linear (if the control element is designed as a slider) or forms a ring or a circular segment (in the case of a fully rotatable or only partially rotatable control element).
[0022] Furthermore, it is advantageous, particularly with regard to the third spring arm, which serves as a return spring, if several such spring arms are arranged evenly distributed. In the case of a depressible rotary control, rotary head, or rotary ring, it is beneficial if three third spring arms are arranged offset from each other by 120°. Similar considerations apply accordingly to the first and second spring arms. Each of these spring arm groups, consisting of first, second, or third spring arms, should have evenly distributed spring arms. This serves, firstly, to ensure that the operating element is depressed securely and, secondly, to even out the forces that the individual spring arms additionally exert on the operating element.
[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second spring arm has a contact end for contacting the scanning track when the control element is depressed, wherein the contact end, considered in the sequence of the first and second sections, has a dimension that is larger than the extent of the first and second sections. This ensures that, when the scanning track is contacted, every second spring arm in any case comes into electrical contact with one of the electrically conductive first sections of the scanning track and is thus capacitively coupled to the touch panel when the control element is depressed.
[0024] It can also be advantageous if the control element has at least two motion detection elements arranged offset from each other along the scanning track, and thus at least two first spring arms, wherein the offset between two of the motion detection elements or between two of the first spring arms extends over a length equal to the extent of successive first and second sections with either an even number of first sections and an odd number of second sections or with an odd number of first sections and an even number of second sections, wherein in each movement position of the control element one of these two motion detection elements or one of these two first spring arms contacts a first section of the scanning track.
[0025] It is typically advantageous if the control element has at least two push-detection encoder elements arranged offset along the scanning track, and thus at least two second spring arms, wherein in each movement position of the control element at least one of these two push-detection encoder elements or at least one of these two second spring arms contacts a first section of the scanning track.
[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the offset between the two said pressure detection elements or between the two said second spring arms extends over a length equal to the extension of successive first and second sections with either an even number of first sections and an odd number of second sections or an odd number of first sections and an even number of second sections.
[0027] It is also advantageous if each first and second section of the holding element arranged along the scanning path extends from the center of a detent to the center of an adjacent detent or from the center of a detent to the center of an adjacent detent.
[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the operating element is designed as a depressible slider or a depressible rotary switch (e.g., a rotary ring or rotary knob). The operating element can be, for example, an open or closed rotary / push switch, which, in its ring configuration, allows a view of the touch panel from the inside, so that information displayed there is visible, as is the case with a touchscreen, or which, in its closed configuration, can, for example, have its own display device.
[0029] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the touch panel is designed as part of a touchscreen, as a capacitive touch pad, or as a capacitive touch film.
[0030] It is also advantageous if a force feedback functionality is available, possibly in conjunction with a force sense functionality of the control element's touch panel.
[0031] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in the fact that if the retaining element is at least partially arranged on the touch-sensitive surface of the top of the touch panel, wherein in each movement position of the control element at least one of the motion detection sensor elements or at least one of the first spring arms and at least one of the push detection sensor elements or at least one of the second spring arms is positioned in that area of the top of the retaining element below which the touch-sensitive surface of the top of the touch panel is located.
[0032] Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in each movement position of the control element, at least two of the motion detection sensors or at least two of the first spring arms and at least one of the push detection sensors or at least one of the second spring arms are positioned in that area of the top of the holding element below which the touch-sensitive surface of the top of the touch panel is located.
[0033] Finally, a further embodiment of the invention provides that the control unit is arranged immovably on the top of the touch panel or that the control unit is movable on the top of the touch panel (e.g. by a magnetic holder of the control unit or a mechanical mounting solution with the possibility of displacement).
[0034] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Specifically, the drawing shows: Fig. 1 a view of the center console and the central part of the instrument panel of a vehicle with the operating device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the operating element of the operating device on the touch-sensitive touch panel, Fig. 3 a section through the operating element, Fig. 4 a representation of the multifunctional spring element according to a first embodiment, Fig. 5 a partially cutaway view of the operating element with the spring element according to Fig. 4 In the installed state and with the control element not pressed, Fig. 6 is a representation similar to the Fig. 5 , wherein an additional component coupled to the control element is shown as a counter bearing for the return springs of the spring element, namely in the control element's unpressed state, Fig. 7 the representation according to Fig. 6In the depressed state of the control element, Fig. 8 shows a representation of the multifunctional spring element according to a second embodiment, Fig. 9 shows a partially cutaway representation of the control element with the spring element according to Fig. 8 In the installed state and with the control element not pressed, Fig. 10 is a representation similar to the Fig. 9 , wherein an additional component coupled to the control element is shown as a counter bearing for the return springs of the spring element, namely in the control element's unpressed state, Fig. 11 the representation according to Fig. 10 In the depressed state of the control element, and Figs. 12 and 13 show two alternatives for realizing a tactile feedback via the return spring, while in the exemplary embodiments of the Figures 4 to 11 The push-button haptic is achieved through a special design of the push-button elements in combination with a special design of the scanning or scanning track.
[0035] In Fig. 1 The area around the center console 10 of a vehicle is shown in a perspective view. The center console 10 is provided with a control device 12, which has a touchscreen 14 with a touch panel 16 and a control unit 18 according to the invention arranged on the touchscreen 14. Various buttons, which are displayed on the touchscreen 14, are indicated at 20.
[0036] In this embodiment, the control unit 18 has a ring-shaped rotary / push-button control 24 as the control element 22, several embodiments of which are described below.
[0037] Fig. 2Figure 1 further illustrates how the rotary / push controller 24 is arranged on the top of the touchscreen 14. The touchscreen 16 has a capacitive touch sensor 26, which serves for the spatially resolved position detection of elements of the control unit 18. As will be described below, these elements are capacitively coupled to the touch sensor 26 of the touchscreen 16 depending on the rotation and push position of the rotary / push controller 24.
[0038] Fig. 3Figure 1 shows a cross-section through the rotary / push-button actuator 24. The rotary / push-button actuator 24 has an operating ring 28, which is made of or coated with electrically conductive material. The operating ring 28 is mounted on a similarly ring-shaped retaining element 30 so that it can be rotated and pressed. A multifunctional spring element 32 and another component 34, also essentially ring-shaped, are rotationally fixed to the operating ring 28. Like the spring element 32, the component 34 rotates with the operating ring 28 when it is turned. When the operating ring 28 is pressed down, it moves axially relative to the other component 34, which has support surfaces for return springs to automatically return the operating ring 28 to its original position after being pressed down. These details will be discussed in more detail below.
[0039] The retaining element 30 also includes part of a detent device 36, which has a detent track 38, but which also serves as a scanning track 40, which is used for the rotation detection and push detection of the rotary / push actuator 24, which will also be discussed in the following.
[0040] Based on the Figures 4 to 7 A first embodiment of the invention is described below.
[0041] In Fig. 4 The multifunctional spring element 32 is shown. This spring element 32 consists of electrically conductive material or is coated with such material and has a support element 42, which in this embodiment is designed as a ring. Three first spring arms 44 extend from the support element 42, at the ends of which slider-like projections 46 are arranged. Each first spring arm 44, together with the projections 46, functions as a motion detection sensor element 48, as shown, for example, in Fig. 5This illustrates that each motion detection sensor element 48 with its projections 46 slides along the scanning track 40. The scanning track 40 has first sections 50 and second sections 52, which are arranged alternately and project from the inside of the retaining element 30, i.e., along the inside of its circumferential wall. The first sections 50 are electrically conductive and extend to the underside 54 of the retaining element 30, with which the entire operating unit 18 rests on the top of the touchscreen 16. The second sections 52 are electrically non-conductive. Sections 50 and 52 are each designed as detent projections 56 of the scanning track 38, which accordingly has detent recesses 58 between each adjacent detent projection.When the control ring 28 is rotated, the motion detection elements 48 slide along the scanning track 40, which is designed as a detent track 38, contacting at least one electrically conductive first section 50 of the scanning track 40 in each rotational position. The electrically conductive multifunctional spring element 32 is itself electrically connected to the control ring 28, so that when the control ring 28 is manually detected, a capacitive coupling of the motion detection elements 48 with the touchscreen 16 occurs, as is the case, for example, when one touches the touchscreen with a finger. In addition to their electrical detection function, the motion detection elements 48 also function as detent elements 59 of the detent device 36.
[0042] As demonstrated by Fig. 4As can be seen, this multifunctional spring element 32 has three secondary spring arms 60, which have contact ends 62 at their ends, via which each of the three secondary spring arms 60 comes into contact with the scanning track 40 when the operating ring 28 is pressed. In the Fig. 5 and 6 The figure shows the situation in which the operating ring 28 is not pressed. The contact ends 62 of the second spring arms 60 lie above the individual sections 50, 52 of the scanning track 40. When the operating ring 28 is pressed down, the situation is as follows: Fig. 7a, in which every second spring arm 60 contacts two adjacent first and second sections 50, 52 of the scanning track 40. This results in further capacitive coupling with the touchscreen 16 when pressed, but at different locations than those where capacitive coupling already occurs due to the current rotational position of the control ring 28. The number and position of the individual points on the touchscreen or touch panel where capacitive coupling and thus "touch" detection occurs when the control ring 28 is pressed and when it is not are different, allowing differentiation between whether the control ring 28 is pressed or not, in addition to its current rotational position.
[0043] The automatic return movement of the operating ring 28 after it is pressed down is also achieved by means of the multifunctional spring element 32, which for this purpose has three third spring arms 64 in this embodiment, which, like the other spring arms 44 and 60, project from the support element 42. These third spring arms 64 are supported on support surfaces 66 on the additional component 34, relative to which the multifunctional spring element 32 can be axially depressed and with which the multifunctional spring element 32 rotates when the operating ring 28 is rotated.
[0044] In Fig. 6The situation described is one in which the operating ring 26 is not pressed. The multifunctional spring element 32 has a distance to the component 34 that is essentially equal to the extent of the depression of the operating ring 28. When the operating ring 28 is pressed down, the curved ends 68 of the third spring arms 64 slide along their associated support surfaces 66. This tensions the third spring arms 64 during depression, thus generating the force or storing the energy required to return the operating ring 28 to its initial position after depression.
[0045] Having now described the electrical functions of the multifunctional spring element 32 and its return function for the first embodiment, we will now turn to the haptic functions. As mentioned above, the motion detection encoder elements 48 also serve as detent elements 59, which interact detentively with the detent track 38. Thus, the rotary haptic function is implemented using the same elements that also serve for motion detection.
[0046] The push-button haptic feedback with snap function is achieved, for example, by a special shaping of the contact ends 62 of the second spring arms 60 (see the grooves 69) in combination with a deflecting edge or deflecting projection 70 on the locking track 38 or on the extensions 72 of the first and second sections 50, 52 of the scanning track 40, which also serve, among other things, to guide the additional component 34 (see the guide groove 73 into which the component 34 is immersed) and to connect to the underside 54 of the retaining element 30. This situation is in the Fig. 6 and 7 shown. In the depress position of the operating ring 28 according to Fig. 7 The contact end 62 of every second spring arm 60 is deflected by a positive displacement. This positive displacement creates an additional mechanical resistance that must be overcome when pressing down the operating ring 28, thus realizing the snap function.
[0047] Alternatively, the push-button haptic feedback with snap function could also be achieved through a special surface structure of the support surfaces 66, as shown in the Figs. 12 and 13 as indicated. According to Fig. 12 For this purpose, it is provided that the end 68 of each third spring arm 64, when the operating ring 28 is in the depress position, is pushed onto a chamfer 74 or over the chamfer 74 onto a plateau 65 (in Fig. 12 (shown by a dashed line) is raised. Alternatively or additionally, every third spring arm 64 can also be immersed with its end 68 in a recess 76 of the support surface 66 when the operating ring 28 is in its depressed position. If necessary, a protrusion 78 can be arranged in front of the recess 76, or a recess can be omitted in front of such a protrusion. The slope of the flanks of the chamfer 74 or protrusion 78 and, if present, the degree of their slope, affect the snap effect.
[0048] When pressing down the operating ring 28, manual effort must be made against the force of the third spring arms 64. Towards the end of the pressing movement, a snap effect occurs in the form of increased resistance that must be overcome, possibly followed by a sudden decrease in resistance.
[0049] As previously described, the multifunctional spring element 32 thus fulfills a multitude of functions, which are made possible by the various spring arms. These functions include the two electrical detection sensor functions for the rotary and push positions, as well as two, and in a special variant three, mechanical functions: namely, the rotary haptic feedback through the detent device with the wave-shaped (slider) ends on the first spring arms 44, the push haptic feedback through the third spring arms 64 which are mechanically tensioned when pressed down, and the snap function in the final phase of pressing down through the previously described alternative shapes of the contact ends 62 of the second spring arms 60 and / or the various configurations of the support surfaces 66 on which the ends 68 of the third spring arms 64 slide when the operating element 22 of the rotary / push controller 24 is pressed down.A single component thus serves several purposes and implements several features (electrical and mechanical) of the operating device according to the invention, which is advantageous with regard to manufacturing and assembly.
[0050] In the Figures 8 to 11 Another embodiment of a multifunctional spring element 32' is shown. In the Figures 8 to 11 These are reference symbols that identify parts with identical construction or function to those of the Figures 4 to 7 show, designated with the same reference symbols as used in the figures mentioned above.
[0051] The essential difference between the two embodiments according to the Figures 4 to 7 On the one hand, and 8 to 11 on the other hand, it can be seen that the orientation of the scanning or scanning track in the exemplary embodiment of the Figures 4 to 7 circumferentially axial, while the scanning or scanning track in the exemplary embodiment of the Figures 8 to 11is radially aligned. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment of the Figures 8 to 11 not on the inside of the circumferential wall of the retaining element 30 but on a flange-like inner projection of the retaining element 30. Thus, the orientation of the contact ends 62 of the first spring arms 44 in the exemplary embodiment according to the Figures 8 to 11 rotated by 90° compared to the situation in the exemplary embodiment of the Figures 4 to 7 . REFERENCE MARK LIST
[0052] 10 Center console 12 Control device 14 Touch screen 16 Touch panel 18 Entire control unit 20 Buttons on the touch screen 22 Control element 24 Ring-shaped rotary / push controller 26 Capacitive touch sensor 28 Control ring 30 Retaining element 32 Multifunctional spring element 32 Multifunctional spring element 34 Additional component 36 Detent device 38 Detent track of the detent device 40 Scanning track 42 Support element 44 First spring arms 46 Extensions 48 Motion detection sensor element 50 First sections of the scanning track 52 Second sections of the scanning track 54 Underside of the retaining element 56 Detent projections of the detent track 58 Detent recesses of the detent track 59 Detent element of the detent device 60 Second spring arms 62 Contact ends of the second spring arms 64 Third spring arms 66 Support surfaces on the component 68 Curved ends of the third spring arms 69 Beads in the contact ends of the second spring arms 70 Deflection projection on the scanning track 72 Extensions 73 Guide groove for the component 74 Chamfer on the support surface 75 Plateau76 Indentation on the support surface 78 Elevation
Claims
1. An operating device for a vehicle, comprising - a capacitively operating touch panel (16) having a touch-sensitive upper face, - an operating unit (18) having an operating element (22) which can be grasped manually and has an electrically conductive surface, and having a holding element (30) which is provided with an upper face and a lower face (54) facing away from the upper face and on which the operating element (22) is arranged so as to be movable in a translatory and / or rotatory manner in a direction parallel to the upper face of the touch panel (16) and orthogonal to the upper face of the touch panel (16), - wherein the operating element (22) comprises at least one motion detection encoder element (48) electrically connected to the electrically conductive surface of the operating element (22), preferably in the form of a wiper sliding along a sensing path (40) of the holding element (30) when the operating element (22) is moved, - wherein the holding element (30) comprises alternately successive first sections (50) and second sections (52) along the sensing path (40), - wherein the upper and lower faces (54) of the holding element (30) are connected to each other in an electrically conductive manner in each of the first sections (50) and are electrically insulated from each other in each of the second sections (52), - wherein the operating unit (18) comprises a latching means (36) having at least one elastic latching element (59) and a latching path (38) with alternately successively arranged latching protrusions and latching recesses (58), - wherein the sensing path (40) of the operating unit (18) is configured as a sensing patch (38) of the latching means (36) and comprises the latching protrusions and the latching recesses (58), wherein the at least one latching element (59) also serves as a motion detection encoder element (48), - wherein the operating element (22) of the operating unit (18) is reversibly depressible towards the holding element (30) and comprises at least one push detection encoder element electrically connected to the electrically conductive surface of the operating element (22), which, in the depressed state of the operating element (22), makes electrically conductive contact with at least one of the first sections of the sensing path (40) of the operating unit (18), irrespective of its movement position, and is arranged at a distance from the sensing path (40) of the operating unit (18) in the non-depressed state of the operating element (22), and - an electrically conductive spring element (32) comprising a support element (42) connected to the surface of the operating element (22) in an electrically conductive manner, from which at least one first spring arm (44) serving as the motion detection encoder element (48) and the latching element (59), at least one second spring arm (60) serving as the push detection encoder element, and at least one third spring arm (64) serving as a return spring for the reversible return movement of the operating element (22) after depressing the same protrude, - wherein the three spring arms (44, 60, 64) are integrally formed with the common support element (42).
2. The operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (42) of the spring element (32) is connected to the operating element (22) and can be moved along with the operating element (22) during its rotary and / or translatory movement and movement orthogonal thereto, and in that an additional component (34) of the operating device has a supporting surface (66) for the third spring arm (64) on which the third spring arm (64) abuts and in relation to which the operating element (22) is movable when being depressed.
3. The operating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the third spring arm (64) slides on the supporting surface (66) when the operating element (22) is depressed.
4. The operating device according to claim 3, characterized in that the supporting surface (66) comprises a protrusion over which the third spring arm (64) slides when the operating element (22) is depressed, and / or a recess (76) into which the third spring arm (64) plunges when the operating element (22) is depressed.
5. The operating device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the second spring arm (60) comprises a deflecting protrusion or a deflecting recess, wherein the second spring arm (60) is reversibly deformable by the deflecting protrusion or by the deflecting recess when the operating element (22) is depressed, thus creating a mechanical resistance to be overcome manually when the sensing path (40) is contacted in order to reach the depressed position of the operating element (22).
6. The operating device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a deflecting protrusion or a deflecting recess for the second spring arm (60) is formed along the sensing path (40) of the operating unit (18), wherein the second spring arm (60) is reversibly deformable by the deflecting protrusion or by the deflecting recess when the operating element (22) is depressed, and thus, when contacting the sensing path (40) or with extensions (72) connected to the first and second sections (50, 52) of the sensing path (40), which, like the first and second sections (50, 52) of the sensing path (40), are alternately electrically connected to the lower face of the holding element (30), a mechanical resistance to be overcome manually in order to reach the depressed position of the operating element (22) is created.
7. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sensing path (40) has a surface facing parallel to the upper face of the touch panel (16) or a surface oriented orthogonal to the upper face of the touch panel (16).
8. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a plurality of, for example three, third spring arms (64) protrude from the support element (42) of the spring element (32) for depressing the operating element (22) in a tilt-proof manner.
9. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the second spring arm (60) comprises a contact end (62) for contacting the sensing path (40) when the operating element (22) is depressed, wherein the contact element has a dimension which is greater than the extension of the first and second sections (50, 52) when viewed in the extension of the succession of the first and second sections (50, 52).
10. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the operating element (22) comprises at least two motion detection encoder elements (48) arranged offset to one another along the sensing path (40) and thus comprises at least two first spring arms (44), wherein the offset between two of the motion detection encoder elements (48) or between two of the first spring arms (44) extends across a length equal to the extension of successive first and second sections (50, 52) with either an even number of first sections (50) and an uneven number of second sections (52) or with an uneven number of first sections (50) and an even number of second sections (52), wherein one of said two motion detection encoder elements (48) or one of said two first spring arms (44) contacts a first section (50) of the sensing path (40) in each movement position of the operating element (22).
11. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the operating element (22) comprises at least two push detection encoder elements arranged offset along the sensing path (40) and thus comprises at least two second spring arms (60), wherein at least one of said two push detection encoder elements or at least one of said two second spring arms (60) contacts a first section of the sensing path (40) in each movement position of the operating element (22).
12. The operating device according to claim 11, characterized in that the offset between the said two push detection encoder elements or between said two second spring arms (60) extends across a length equal to the extension of successive first and second sections (50, 52) with either an even number of first sections (50) and an uneven number of second sections (52) or an uneven number of first sections (50) and an even number of second sections (52).
13. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that each first and second section (50, 52) of the holding element (30) arranged along the sensing path (40) extends from the center of a latching recess (58) to the center of an adjacent latching recess (58) or from the center of a latching elevation to the center of an adjacent latching elevation.
14. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the operating element (22) is formed as a depressible slider or a depressible rotary adjuster.
15. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the touch panel (16) is formed as a part of a touch screen or as a capacitively operating touch pad or as a capacitively operating touch film.
16. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by a force feedback functionality optionally in combination with a force sense functionality of the touch panel (16) of the operating element (22).
17. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the holding element (30) is at least partially arranged on the touch-sensitive surface of the upper face of the touch panel (16), wherein, in each movement position of the operating element (22), at least one of the motion detection encoder elements (48) or at least one of the first spring arms (44) and at least one of the push detection encoder elements or at least one of the second spring arms (60) is positioned in that region of the upper face of the holding element (30) below which the touch-sensitive surface of the upper face of the touch panel (16) is located.
18. The operating device according to claim 17, characterized in that, in each movement position of the operating element (22), at least two of the motion detection encoder elements (48) or at least two of the first spring arms (44) and at least one of the push detection encoder elements or at least one of the second spring arms (60) are positioned in that region of the upper face of the holding element (30) below which the touch-sensitive surface of the upper face of the touch panel (16) is located.
19. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the operating unit (18) is arranged immovably on the upper face of the touch panel (16), or in that the operating unit (18) is displaceable on the upper face of the touch panel (16).